Definition of Stifle

1.n. The joint next above the hock, and near the flank, in the hind leg of the horse and allied animals; the joint corresponding to the knee in man; -- called also stifle joint. See Illust. under Horse.

2.v. t. To stop the breath of by crowding something into the windpipe, or introducing an irrespirable substance into the lungs; to choke; to suffocate; to cause the death of by such means; as, to stifle one with smoke or dust.

3.v. i. To die by reason of obstruction of the breath, or because some noxious substance prevents respiration.

Definition of Stifle

1. Noun. A hind knee of various mammals, especially horses. ¹

2. Noun. (veterinary medicine) A bone disease of this region. ¹

3. Verb. (transitive) To interrupt or cut off. ¹

4. Verb. (transitive) To repress, keep in or hold back. ¹

5. Verb. (transitive) To smother or suffocate. ¹

6. Verb. (intransitive) To feel smothered etc. ¹

7. Verb. (intransitive) To die of suffocation. ¹

8. Verb. (transitive) To treat a silkworm cocoon with steam as part of the process of silk production. ¹

Literary usage of Stifle

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1.English Synonymes Explained in Alphabetical Order: With Copious by George Crabb (1826)"SMOTHER, as a frequentative of smut or smoke, signifies to cover with smut or *moke.
SUPPRESS, r. To repress. stifle and smother in their literal sense will ..."

2.South Eastern Reporter by West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, West Publishing Company, South Carolina Supreme Court (1912)"... and to stifle competition and coerce the city authorities to repeal the license
tax, does not charge a criminal conspiracy at common law, but shows that ..."

3.An universal etymological English dictionaryby Nathan Bailey by Nathan Bailey (1724)"To stifle ... stifleD HORSE, is one who has his Leg- Bone put our, or the Point,
much hurt stifle JOINT, ..."

4.The Modern Horse Doctor: Containing Practical Observations on the Causes by George H. Dadd (1854)"We are frequently called to see horses said to have their stifle out, which, on
examination, ... The stifle joint is composed of the lower end of the femur, ..."

5.Cases Argued and Adjudged in the Supreme Court of the United States by United States Supreme Court, John William Wallace (1911)"... i\ stifle. 1. Section 4 of the constitution of Missouri, which ordains that— "
No person shull bo prosecuted in any civil action for or on account of ..."

6.The Exterior of the Horse by Armand Goubaux, Gustave Barrier (1892)"The stifle corresponds to the femoro-patellar articulation, and is comprised ...
Finally, the cutaneous fold, known under the name of fold of the stifle, ..."